Richmond fence rules: permits and height limits

Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?

Richmond, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Richmond a typical fence needs no building permit, but the City's Bulletin Building-44 says a fence with concrete foundations does. In residential zones the Zoning Bylaw allows up to 1.2 m in the front yard and 2.0 m elsewhere (2.4 m along a lot line next to a non-residential zone).

Key facts

Permit	A building permit is not needed for a typical fence: the Building Regulation Bylaw leaves 'a fence' out of the definition of 'structure'. But City Bulletin Building-44 says a permit is required for a fence with concrete foundations. Fence height must meet the Zoning Bylaw.Sources differ: Bylaw 7230 excludes a fence from 'structure', and the Homeowner Guide PC-32 (rev. March 2023) lists fences as permit-free. Bulletin Building-44 (rev. July 22, 2025) says a permit is required for fences with concrete foundations, citing Bylaw 7230 s. 16.1, and for signed and sealed drawings on peat soil. Ask Building Approvals (604-276-4118) before pouring footings. Retaining walls over 1 m need a permit.Building Regulation Bylaw 7230, s. 16.1 definition of STRUCTURE; Bulletin Building-44 Residential Zones - Fence Heights, Application Requirements; A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), s. 2(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording excludes landscaping, paving, a fence, or a retaining wall under 1.0 m in height. A building permit is required for fence construction with concrete foundations Fences (fence height must comply with intersection sightline requirements and the Zoning Bylaw);
Height, front yard	1.2 m maximum for a fence in the front yard, or any part of a yard between the house and the front lot line, in residential zones.Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 6 Landscaping and Screening, s. 6.8.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording a fence located in the front yard, or any part of a yard between the principal building and the front lot line, shall not exceed 1.2 m in
Height, side and rear yards	2.0 m maximum in residential zones. Along a lot line that abuts a non-residential zone or a site-specific zone governing residential uses, the maximum is 2.4 m along that lot line only.Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 6 Landscaping and Screening, s. 6.8.1 and 6.8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No fence constructed in residential zones and site specific zones that include residential uses shall exceed 2.0 m in height. a zone other than a residential zone the maximum fence height shall be 2.4 m along that lot line only
Corner lots and sightlines	Bylaw 8500 s. 6.1.1: no fence, landscaping or screen may block the line of vision between 0.9 m and 3.0 m above the curb or road crown within the corner triangle bounded 7.5 m from where the property lines meet. City Bulletin Building-44 also says 1.2 m maximum in exterior side yards of corner lots; the bylaw text sets 1.2 m only in front of the principal building.Sources differ: Bulletin Building-44 says 1.2 m is the maximum in the front yard or the exterior side yards of corner lots. Zoning Bylaw s. 6.8.1 (which governs) sets 1.2 m only for the front yard or any part of a yard between the principal building and the front lot line, and 2.0 m otherwise.Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 6 Landscaping and Screening, s. 6.1.1; Bulletin Building-44 Residential Zones - Fence Heights, Fence Height Requirements · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No fence, landscaping or screen shall be grown, placed or caused or allowed to be grown or placed so as to obstruct the line of vision at an intersection between the height of 0.9 m and 3.0 m a line drawn to connect the property lines at a distance of 7.5 m from their point of intersection A maximum fence height of 1.2 m is permitted for fences located in the front yard or the exterior side yards for corner lots.
Other rules	Height is measured from average finished grade 1.0 m out from both sides of the property line. Barbed, electrified and razor wire and barbed tape are banned in residential zones. Pool fences: at least 1.2 m high, no openings over 100 mm, self-closing latched gate. Retaining walls under 1.0 m are not 'structures'; over 1 m need a building permit.Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 6 Landscaping and Screening, s. 6.8.3 and 6.8.5; Building Regulation Bylaw 7230, s. 9.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Fence height shall be measured at the average finished site grade measured at a point 1.0 m from both sides of the property line to the top of the fence. The use of barbed wire, electrified wire, razor wire and barbed tape obstacles as fencing material is prohibited has a minimum height of 1.2 metres has no openings greater than 100 millimetres at their least dimension excludes landscaping, paving, a fence, or a retaining wall under 1.0 m in height.
Bylaw	Richmond Zoning Bylaw No. 8500, Section 6 (Landscaping and Screening), ss. 6.1 and 6.8Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 6 Landscaping and Screening; Bulletin Building-44 Residential Zones - Fence Heights · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Fence Limitations in Residential Zones Visibility Clearance at Intersections Richmond Zoning Bylaw No. 8500

How it works

The City of Richmond's Building Regulation Bylaw 7230 leaves "a fence" out of the definition of a structure, and the City's homeowner guide lists fences as work that needs no permit. Fence height and placement are set by Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 6.

Steps

Find your lot lines and zone (see property-lines and the Richmond Interactive Map).
Keep the fence within the height limits below. Height is measured from the average finished grade 1.0 m out from both sides of the property line.
If the fence will have concrete foundations, call Building Approvals (604-276-4118) before pouring footings to ask whether you need a permit.
If your lot is on a corner or next to a non-residential zone, check with Zoning (604-276-4017) before you build.

Good to know

Front yard, or any part of a yard between the house and the front lot line, in residential zones: 1.2 m maximum.
Elsewhere in residential zones: 2.0 m maximum. Along a lot line that abuts a non-residential zone or a site-specific zone governing residential uses: 2.4 m along that lot line only. Agricultural zones have different limits, and a zone's own fence rules win over these.
Corner lots: no fence, landscaping or screen may block the line of vision between 0.9 m and 3.0 m above the road within the corner triangle 7.5 m from where the property lines meet. Bulletin Building-44 says 1.2 m also applies in exterior side yards; the bylaw does not say this, so confirm with the City.
Bulletin Building-44 says a fence with concrete foundations needs a permit, which differs from the bylaw and the homeowner guide.
Barbed, electrified and razor wire and barbed tape are banned in residential zones.
Pool fences must be at least 1.2 m high with no openings over 100 mm and a self-closing, latched gate.
Retaining walls under 1.0 m are not structures. Over 1 m, they need a building permit.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Vancouver · Burnaby · North Vancouver · New Westminster · Delta · District of North Vancouver

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Bulletin Building-44 Residential Zones - Fence Heights (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 6 Landscaping and Screening (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
Building Regulation Bylaw 7230 (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)

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